Disclaimers
Effective Date: September 26, 2026
This page explains, in plain language, what GaugeWatcher can and can’t tell you. It summarizes parts of our Terms of Service, which control if the two ever differ.
A gauge is not a safety check
Whitewater paddling and other river activities are dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. A gauge tells you how much water was flowing at one spot when the reading was taken. It does not show wood, strainers, undercuts, debris, dam releases, flash floods, cold water, or weather.
- A green dot or a “Running” label means only that the reading is inside the range you set. It does not mean the river is safe, runnable, or right for your skills.
- Scout, check current local information, and make your own decision. You are responsible for your safety and the safety of anyone you paddle with.
- You assume all risks of your river activities. See Terms, Section 6.
The data can be wrong or late
Readings come from government agencies and other public sources that we don’t control. Readings can be:
- Provisional or estimated
- Revised after publication
- Delayed or missing
- Simply wrong because of damaged or iced-up equipment
Agencies often label recent data provisional and subject to change. We show readings as the agency publishes them, and we can’t verify them.
Weather comes from Apple Weather. Forecasts are predictions, not guarantees.
GaugeBot in the Mac app uses an AI model that can make things up, including flow numbers. Always check its answers against the actual readings.
Alerts can fail
Alerts depend on the data sources, our servers, Apple’s push notification service, and your device and network. An alert may be late, may arrive more than once, or may never arrive. GaugeWatcher is not a flood warning or emergency system. For emergencies, follow your national weather service and local authorities.
No warranty, limited liability
GaugeWatcher is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind. To the fullest extent the law allows, we are not liable for any injury, death, loss, or damage arising from your use of GaugeWatcher or your reliance on its data. The full terms are in Terms, Sections 8 and 9.
Data sources and attribution
GaugeWatcher shows data from the providers below. Each provider’s own terms apply to its data. GaugeWatcher is independent. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of them.
United States
- U.S. Geological Survey. Source of river gauge data: U.S. Geological Survey. Public domain. USGS data is preliminary or provisional and subject to revision. See the USGS provisional data statement.
- NOAA National Weather Service. Public domain.
- Colorado Division of Water Resources. The data made available here has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Colorado. THE STATE OF COLORADO MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF COLORADO EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. It is understood that the information contained in the Web feed is being used at one’s own risk.
Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada. Data Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada. Used under the Environment and Climate Change Canada Data Servers End-use Licence.
- BC Hydro. Readings are automated, are not quality-controlled, and may be inaccurate.
- Metro Vancouver. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
New Zealand
- Greater Wellington Regional Council. Data may be amended without notice.
- West Coast Regional Council. © Crown copyright. Raw telemetry data. Treat it as preliminary and subject to change.
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council. © Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Live telemetry that may be provisional.
Trademarks
Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, Mac, App Store, Apple Intelligence, and Apple Weather are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Other names are the trademarks of their respective owners. Mentioning them does not imply any affiliation or endorsement.